The available annuity payout options are as follows:
Life income (straight): This is typically the riskiest payout option for the owner because it has the highest monthly payment, but no payments continue after death. Payments are guaranteed for the annuitant’s life and stop when the annuitant dies.
Period certain (fixed period annuity): This payout option provides payments for a fixed period (for example, 10 or 20 years). If the annuitant dies during that period, a beneficiary receives the remaining payments. If the annuitant lives beyond the period, payments stop when the period ends.
Life annuity with period certain: Payments are guaranteed for the annuitant’s lifetime or for a specified period (for example, 10 or 20 years), whichever is longer. If the annuitant dies during the guaranteed period, the beneficiary receives the remaining payments. If the annuitant lives beyond the period, payments continue for life.
Refund: This is typically the most conservative option and has the lowest payments. If the annuitant dies before receiving payments equal to the contract’s value at annuitization, the beneficiary receives the remaining balance. Refunds may be paid either in a lump sum (cash refund) or in continued installments (installment refund).
Joint life: This payout option covers two or more people, commonly spouses. The contract pays monthly as long as at least one annuitant is living. Depending on the contract, the payment may stay the same or be reduced when the first annuitant dies.
Taxation of annuity payments differs from withdrawals during the accumulation stage. Once a contract has been annuitized, the 10% early withdrawal penalty no longer applies because payments are treated as a scheduled annuity stream, not as withdrawals. Tax applies only to the portion of each payment that represents growth.
The IRS allows portability of funds in life insurance and annuity contracts. Internal Revenue Code 1035 allows the transfer of funds from one product to another, or from one company to another. Under 1035 exchange rules, tax on accumulated earnings is deferred for the following transfers:
Equity indexed annuities are fixed annuities that guarantee against loss of principal if held to term. With an equity indexed annuity, interest credited is linked to the upward movement of a designated index, such as the Standard and Poor’s 500 (S&P 500).
Another fixed annuity product with a market-driven aspect is the market value adjusted annuity. Unlike an equity indexed annuity (where interest is linked to an index), a market value adjusted annuity’s interest rate remains fixed. The market value adjustment feature applies only if the contract is surrendered before the contract period expires.
If a market value adjusted annuity owner surrenders the contract early, both a surrender charge and a market value adjustment apply.
IRS rules under Code 1035 allow portability of funds between life insurance and annuity contracts, deferring tax on certain transfers such as life-to-life, life-to-annuity, and annuity-to-annuity. Transfers from an annuity into life insurance are not permitted.
Available annuity payout options include life income, period certain, life annuity with period certain, refund, and joint life. Each option balances monthly income against guarantees for beneficiaries.
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